Division Report: Health Occupations Education

Division Report: Health Occupations Education

Article excerpt

Mary Kleber has been involved with technical education for 21 years as a teacher, program coordinator and state program director for all health programs in Kentucky. Experience in each area provides insight into issues that affect health occupations education. Her goal, as VP, is to promote collaboration and appropriate representation in order to advance secondary and postsecondary educational initiatives that will positively impact all HOE members.

Kleber says, "We have many changes occurring within our division. We have new policies and changes in the makeup of the policy committee, as well as the restructuring of our councils. The assistance of every HOE member is needed in order to meet the strategic plan and goals of ACTE and the HOE division." (www.acteonline.org/about/div-hoe-pre-letter.html)

"As we enter the new millennium, change and progress will occur at an unprecedented rate and with that, a new era for (career and) technical education. We need to be cognizant of initiatives that focus on improving student achievement and preparation for postsecondary education and careers. We, as teachers, administrators and teacher educators, must ensure that our educational systems provide programs that will meet the needs of each student as well as business and industry.

"The HOE-HOSA partnership is important to the organization. Our future health care workers and many HOE members will come from this sector. The impact that HOSA has on our secondary and postsecondary students is profound. I will strive to strengthen this partnership." (www.acteonline.org/about/div-hoe-fall00.html)

HOE Councils

The councils hold meetings in conjunction with the annual ACTE convention. Special meetings are called whenever necessary.

Council of Health Occupation Teachers

The Council of Health Occupation Teachers is a national organization for all secondary and postsecondary classroom health occupations teachers. The purpose of COHOT is to provide relevant, updated teaching techniques and curricula for its members. The council sponsors a student scholarship for members' students. Watch for a link to COHOT online within the HOE Division of ACTE online. An annual meeting is held in conjunction with the ACTE conference.

In the spring of 2000, COHOT awarded three scholarships to students in postsecondary health professions programs:

A $300 scholarship was awarded to Larisa Jo Griffin, who attended Cheyenne Central High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Her advisor was Bonnie Hardy. Larisa plans to continue her education by pursuing an R.N. degree in college.

Two $150 scholarships were also awarded. The first went to Linda Hill, who attended Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado. Her advisor was Kathy Smith Stillson. Linda plans to continue her training as a medical assistant at a postsecondary school. …